How to S.H.A.R.E.

How to and requirements for registering for S.H.A.R.E.

We encourage EVERYONE to S.H.A.R.E. their habitat with pollinators! You can develop landscape plantings that provide pollinator habitat by planting for pollinators, monitoring for pollinators, and reducing your impact. Click here to see the sign.

Step 1: Plan and Plant

Whether you are a farmer of many acres, a land manager of a large tract of land, or a gardener with a small lot, you can increase the number of pollinators in your area by making conscious choices to include plants that provide essential habitat for bees, butterflies, moths, beetle, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. As you begin to plan and plant, be sure to include elements that provide food, shelter, and water for pollinators.

Food

Flowers provide nectar and pollen to pollinators. Fermenting fallen fruits also provide food for bees, beetles, and butterflies. Specific host plants are eaten by the larvae of pollinators such as butterflies.

Plant in groups to increase pollination efficiency. If a pollinator can visit the same type of flower over and over, it doesn’t have to relearn how to enter the flower and transfer pollen of the same species, instead of squandering the pollen on unreceptive flowers.

Plant with bloom season in mind, providing food from early spring to late fall

Plant a diversity of plants to support a variety of pollinators

Flowers of different color, fragrance, and season of bloom on plants of different heights will attract different pollinator species and provide pollen and nectar throughout the seasons

Many herbs and annuals, although not native, are very good for pollinators (.e.g. mint, oregano, garlic, chives, and lavender)

Recognize weeds that might be a good source of food (e.g. dandelions)

Learn and utilize Integrated Pest Management practices to address pest concerns. Minimize or eliminate the use of pesticides

Shelter

Pollinators need protection from severe weather and from predators as well as sites for nesting and roosting.

Incorporate different canopy layers in the landscape by planting trees, shrubs, and different-sized perennial plants

Leave dead snags for nesting sites of bees, and other dead plants and leaf litter for shelter

Group plantings so that pollinators can move safely through the landscape protected from predators

Include plants that are needed by butterflies during their larval development

Water

A clean, reliable source of water is essential to pollinators.

Natural and human-made water features such as running water, pools, ponds, and small containers of water provide drinking and bathing opportunities for pollinators.

Ensure the water sources have a shallow or sloping side so the pollinators can easily approach the water without drowning.

Step 2: Register

We encourage EVERYONE to S.H.A.R.E. their habitat with pollinators! Now that you have developed landscape plantings that provide pollinator habitat by planting for pollinators, register with S.H.A.R.E. to be recognized for your efforts to protect and conserve pollinators. Simply tell us about your landscape by registering your S.H.A.R.E. site here.

Step 3: Monitor

Observe wildlife activity in your farm fields, woodlands, and gardens to determine what actions you can take to encourage other pollinators to feed and nest. Evaluate the placement of individual plants and water sources and use your knowledge of specific pollinator needs to guide your choice and placement of additional plants and other habitat elements. Minor changes by many individuals can positively impact the pollinator populations in your area. Be sure to keep a record of your observations. We have provided you with an optional free to download monitoring data sheet. Click here to download yours.

Watch for - and enjoy - the changes in your landscape!

Step 4: Report

We want to hear from you! Applicants that have registered and met the S.H.A.R.E. registration requirements are encouraged to report on the status of their pollinator landscape monitoring by emailing SHARE@pollinator.org. Registered S.H.A.R.E. applicants that report on their pollinator landscape will receive an e-certificate, access to free online materials and have the option to receive a printed S.H.A.R.E. site sign by donating $20.00.